The Bernie Madoff Dining Index
Thursday, August 13, 2009, by Eater Staff

---

Ah yes, Bernie Madoff. This week, a snapshot of Bernie's AmEx spending was released to the public. The 100-plus page document shows that the Madoff Clan—the account covers 14 (!) credit cards—wasn't only busy stealing money, but spending it too. There's a lot to love here, from $10,000 charitable donations to organizations he was ripping off, to hotel stays that cost more than a year of education at most colleges.

But what's really important here? Questions like: Where were these guys eating? What neighborhoods did they hang out in most? What was Bernie's worst tip percentage? (For the record, they only ate at Per Se once during the three months reflected here. And it wasn't the most expensive meal.) So Eater dug through the records, returning with this, The Bernie Madoff Dining Index.

Most Frequent Visits:
-Lure (8)
-Brasserie (5)
-Houston's (6)
-Mezzaluna (4)
-Balthazar (3)

Most Expensive Meal: $1,943.46 at Patroon

Worst Tip: 6% at Lure

Restaurant Visits by Neighborhood:

Yonkers (!):
8/12/08 – Mount Olympos Diner - $40.10 + 10 tip

West Village:
7/10/08 – Bar Blanc - $161.48 + 30 tip
7/21/08 – Blue Ribbon Brasserie - $49.58 + 10 tip

Greenwich Village:
8/01/08 – Risotteria - $37.56

Soho:
7/30/08 – Balthazar - $141 + 28 tip
8/13/08 – Balthazar – 158.55 + 30 tip
6/26/08 – Balthazar - $114.90 + 23.10 tip
8/11/08 – Blue Ribbon Sushi - $154.16 + 30 tip
8/20/08 – Blue Ribbon Sushi - $122.19 + 25 tip
7/22/08 – Blue Ribbon Sushi - $87.79 + 17 tip
8/11/08 – Delicatessen - $41.18 + 9 tip
1/05/08 – Goblin Market - $177.74 + 35 tip
1/01/08 – Lure - $118.88 + 24 tip
1/06/08 – Lure - $104.04 + 20 tip
1/17/08 – Lure - $165.83 + 32 tip
1/20/08 – Lure - $101.87 + 23 tip
1/21/08 – Lure - $78.03 + 5 tip
7/16/08 – Lure - $86.70 + 19 tip
7/23/08 – Lure - $66.11 + 10 tip
7/29/08 – Lure - $108.95 + 20 tip
6/26/08 – Mercer Kitchen - $68.28 + 14 tip
8/02/08 – Mezzogiorno - $128.42 + 25 tip
8/02/08 – Raoul’s Restaurant - $188.57 + 42 tip
1/15/08 – Woo Lae Oak - $225.52 + 45 tip
6/26/08 – Woo Lae Oak - $217.85 + 42 tip
8/17/08 – Woo Lae Oak – 140.89 + 28 tip

Noho:
7/29/08 – Chinatown Brasserie - $68.11 + 6.89 tip

Lower East Side:
7/22/08 – Freeman’s - $120.30 + 22 tip
1/19/08 – Rayuela - $200.50 + 40 tip
1/19/08 – Rayuela - $25 + 5 tip
1/19/08 – Russ & Daughters - $43.92

MePa:
7/07/08 – 202 Cafe - $33.87

Union Square:
8/18/08 – Strip House - $19.50 + 4 tip

Flatiron/Gramercy:
6/26/08 – Tarallucci E Vino - $34.68 + 7 tip
1/10/08 – Outback Steakhouse - $88.69

Midtown:
7/11/08 – Bobby Van’s Steakhouse - $199.64 + 35 tip
7/24/08 – Benoit - $348.97 + 60 tip
7/01/08 – Benoit Restaurant - $71.53 + 14 tip
8/21/08 – Brasserie - $47.14 + 8 tip
1/17/08 – Brasserie - $127.34 + 24 tip
8/13/08 – Brasserie - $36.31 + 6 tip
8/20/08 – Brasserie - $69.36 + 13 tip
1/08/08 – Brasserie - $383.65 + 75 tip
7/22/08 – Dos Caminos (midtown) - $138.63 + 30 tip
8/15/08 – Fresh Basils - $34.25 + 4 tip
1/23/08 – Houston’s - $42.27 + 8 tip
8/11/08 – Houston’s - $32.64
7/23/08 – Houston’s - $61.39
1/03/08 – Houston’s - $102.95 + 20 tip
1/09/08 – Houston’s - $110.55 + 11 tip
8/14/08 – Houston’s - $228.03
1/19/08 – Le Tre Venezie - $295.55 + 80 tip
6/28/08 – Lever House - $274.19 + 50 tip
7/20/08 – Panda Restaurant - $29.40
8/21/08 – Patroon - $1623.46 + 320 tip
7/21/08 – Pietro’s - $159.66
7/23/08 – Pietro’s - $210.07
8/13/08 – Sushi Ann - $249.70
7/02/08 – Wollensky’s Grill - $65.30 + 10 tip

Upper East Side:
12/28/07 - TAL Bagels - $441
7/23/08 – Bar at Etats-Unis - $88.70 + 16 tip
7/15/08 – Canaletto Ristorante - $97.75
7/16/08 – EAT - $94.02
1/21/08 - Fred’s at Barney’s – $52.56 + 12.00 tip
1/03/08 – Fusha Japanese Restaurant - $84.93
1/04/08 – Maz Mezcal - $78.87
7/31/08 – Maz Mezcal - $78.82
8/22/08 – Maz Mezcal – $42.38
1/07.08 – Mezzaluna - $194.53 + 32 tip
1/22/08 – Mezzaluna - $400.45 + 80 tip
7/21/08 – Mezzaluna - $214.04 + 42 tip
7/30/08 – Mezzallina - $76.95 + 15 tip
1/11/08 – Nicola’s Restaurant - $177.55
1/08/08 – Paola’s - $149.88
8/13/08 – Paola’s – $131.10
6/25/08 – Primola - $305.25
7/01/08 – Rughetta - $258.40 + 46 tip
08/11/08 – Rughetta - $283.05 + 50 tip
8/18/08 – Rughetta - $36.55 + 7 tip
12/31/07 – Sables Smoked Fish- $293.56
7/16/08 – Teodora - $26.50
1/09/08 – Vivolo – $145.20

Upper West Side:
7/02/08 - Café fiorella - $124.10
8/17/08 – Shun Lee Palace – 48.42

Columbus Circle:
1/18/08 – Per Se - $1,066.41 + 60 tip
7/28/08 – Picholine – $45.52 + 9 tip

— Matt Duckor
·